True to his word, Bruce Wayne appeared shortly after she had finished breakfast. "Come with me. We're going to the Batcave." She followed him and she once again found herself in Batman's high tech secret hideout.
She stood in a brightly lit part of the room, waiting for what would happen next. Batman stood across from her, his face hidden in shadows. "Terra, are you ready to begin your training?"
"Yes I am, sir," she replied.
"Fine, I will take the offensive, you must block my attack."
And then it began. She literally felt as if she'd been hit by lighting. He attacked so fast Terra couldn't even block it. She hit her knees, wind knocked out of her. She'd never experienced anything like this, except maybe training under Slade, but still, she was shocked at how fast this older man could move.
She got to her feet and caught her breath as he charged her again. This time, she was successful in blocking his attacks and kept up her defensive stance as Batman rained down blows on her. Soon settling into her defensive position, she was dodging and blocking his fierce kicks and punches. Suddenly, the attacks ceased, and Batman stepped back. "Well done. Still Terra, you must learn to anticipate your opponents moves when you do not know their weakness. I can see you've learned quite a few fighting techniques from the Terminator. But I can give you something he never could."
"What is that, Batman?" Terra questioned aloud.
"Control. He manipulated you and made you think you could control your powers. But I will show you that with training and discipline, you can learn how to control your powers."
"Training and discipline? Sounds painful," Terra quipped.
"Ah, that's what you think," Batman was amused. "It will take time and effort, but it will be worth it, I can say that much."
"How long will it take?" Terra asked, unsure of what he answer would be.
"Six months of training at least," came Batman's shocking answer.
"Six months?!" Terra's shock was obvious. "That's a long time to train!"
"I know, but Robin survived; and so will you." Batman said simply. Terra thought the man had to be insane, making her train for such a long time period. But she remembered Robin's skill and cunning and how he fought her for a long time before she had subdued him in her quest to destroy the Titans. If she could learn from his master what he knew, maybe, just maybe, when she combined it with what she had learned from Slade; maybe she could take him down.
So for six months, Terra Markov trained. Mastering the martial arts she became a skilled hand-to-hand combatant. Also, she began to hone her powers as an earth moving telekinetic. It became much easier to concentrate on what she wanted it to do.
After six long, grueling months of disciplined training, Terra stood before Batman ready to take her place at his side as his Apprentice. Only one thing stood in her way: The Gauntlet. It was the ultimate test of her skill. Elude the Dark Knight on the streets of Gotham from Sundown to sunset without help and she would earn the privilege of fighting at his side.
It was late afternoon and Bruce place a hand on her shoulder. "It's time."
"I know," she replied.
She walked off into the distance. Batman stood watching her in complete silence. He knew this would be her ultimate test of skill. If she could elude him, she would prove herself. Tonight, she would run the Gauntlet, and he would either take her as his Apprentice, or he would let her go back to Jump City and stay with the Titans.
Batman hoped that she would be successful. He was lonely without Dick and Jason was dead thanks to the Joker. He really needed someone around, whether or not he wanted to admit it.
It was a long time before Batman decided it was time to go look for Terra. He wanted to give her plenty of time to put some distance between the two of them. He quietly went back to the Batmobile and climbed inside. He was going to check on Wayne Enterprises before he went looking for her.
Pulling up to the side of the Wayne Enterprises building, Batman got out and started looking around. It was completely silent. There wasn't anyone around. That was a good sign. No one would disturb the streets tonight.
Finishing his nightly rounds, Batman went off to search for Terra. The time of testing was at hand.
Terra walked away from Batman contemplating what to do next. She'd have to use all her aquired skills and cunning to avoid him. But how? He was known as the World's Greatest Detective, a lofty title for a man who really could find anybody anywhere. She'd have to get into his head and figure out how he thought so she could stay one step ahead of him.
So where would she go? Well, eluding a man who could find anybody was difficult in itself. Where to hide, Terra began thinking. No. You couldn't hide from him you just had to keep moving long enough that he was one step behind you. Terra remembered her training under Slade, she knew how to hide things well, but not like this. She could hide her true intentions, but not hide herself like this. She traveled silently on her rock and decided it was time to start hiding.
She headed to a nearby cafe. Walking in, she sat down and pretended to be looking at the menu; when in reality, she was looking for any signs of Batman. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a black shape stealthfully moving towards the building. Putting the menu back on the table, Terra made a quick exit out on of the back doors. Using her powers, she vulted onto the roof and moved quickly into the shadows, just as Batman came out of the same doorway, looking around.
Not wanting to be spotted on the roof she lept off, putting her powers into play, she landed silently on her rock just as Batman's eyes swept over her former hiding place. Quickly and silently, Terra took off, she needed to put more distance between them.
Heading away from Wayne Enterprises, Batman started his search for Terra. Driving around for awhile, he stopped at a nearby cafe when he noticed a set of muddy foot prints heading in that direction. He knew the size of Terra's shoes and knew that was where she was headed. Walking stealthfully towards the cafe, he ducked inside quickly so he wouldn't be notice. Peering at one of the empty tables, he observed that one of the menu's had been moved, a sure sign she'd been in there. Heading quickly out the back door.
Looking around, he saw no sign of her, his eyes automatically swept over the rooftops. He figured she hand been there. Landing silently on the rooftop, Batman started looking around. He looked carefully at the ground, examining the roof for any sign of her. Walking over to the roof's edge, Batman peered down at the ground and noticed a small trail of loose earth and dust leading down the alleyway. Leaping down from the roof, Batman ran silently down the alleyway following a small trail of dust as he headed in Terra's general direction. He glanced at his watch., it was six; the sun set at eight, she still had two hours left to prove to him that she was worthy of being his Apprentice. Such as short amount of time, but still he wondered if she could pull it off.
Terra glanced at her watch, only two hours left. Two hours to determine what would happen to her next. Would she succeed in eluding the legendary Dark Knight long enough, or would all the training and dicipline be in vain? Terra's eyes narrowed, she would do it, no matter what; without aid, she would prove to him that she could do it; that she was worry of the title of Batman's Apprentice.
Terra needed another place to hide. But where could she go? She needed to think. It had to be a place where you wouldn't expect someone to hide. Somewhere out of the way, inconspicuous. She began scanning the area, looking for somewhere to go.
Then she spotted it, the old Gotham church. It was empty, no one had been there in a long time. He probably wouldn't think to look for her there. Terra made her way inside, leaving the door slightly ajar as it had been before. She made her way down the long isle towards the large altar in the middle of the sanctuary. Terra stared at the great wooden cross that had fallen off the wall and was lying at an awkward angle. "So You're really up there, huh? Is that why You let him find me? To give me another chance?"
Terra's head snapped around, she thought she heard footsteps. Using the earth beneath her, she flew into the air, catching a hold of the rafters, she swung herself up onto the beam. Carefully she balanced herself on the beam so she could stay in the shadows and still see what was going on.
She had hidden herself not a moment too soon too. For she had barely scrambled onto the rafters when Batman walked in, scanning the area. Terra held her breath and waited as his eyes carefully scanned the floor and the ceiling. He stayed in the church a few more minutes; she knew he knew he was close. He just didn't know how close he was. Turning, he walked out, looking over his shoulder up into the dark crevice where she was before walking outside into the night.
Waiting five minutes, Terra clanked at her watch, it was almost eight. Terra thought quickly, what was the one place he would never think to look for her? Then it hit her, Wayne Manor! What would compel him to look for her in his own house? It was pure genius. Terra made her way to Wayne Manor as fast as she could, and hoped that Batman had given up by then.
Batman followed the trail of dirt 'til he came to the old abandoned church. He could tell Terra was there by the fact that the dirt beside the doorway had been disturbed. Walking inside, he examined the dilapidated sanctuary. Naturally, he raised his eyes towards the ceiling. He looked up, and saw nothing. His eyes roamed the darkness, still nothing. At last, he decided it was time to leave. He turned and began walking out of the church. He stopped and looked up into the darkness. He thought he saw something, but at second glance, there was still nothing. He smiled to himself, she had eluded him; time to go home.
Pulling the Batmobile into his secret garage, Batman silently stepped out and made his way to the Batcave. He was not surprised at all when he found Terra Markov standing in the spotlight waiting for him. "Well done," he congratulated. "You've eluded me. You have earned the right to be my Apprentice."
"What would you have me do now, sir?" Terra asked.
"We're taking a road trip to Jump City…it's time to take the Terminator down."